Anyone who has followed the club for more than a couple of seasons will share the Op's concerns, as we also remember the drought, the relegations, the 'sleeping giant' quips, the false dawns...
But we can have a hand in how we are percieved to a degree - some looking from the outside will never see past the money, especially those sections of the media how see it as an easy target, but when you talk to real fans of other club, they do still in general have at least a little respect and knowledge of City as a club, and of it's fans.
As I posted in the Man U most hated club thread:
Plus, I've always been baffled by the many United fans (not all, some are decent if we are honest, but an awful lot, especially the younger) who claim supporters of other clubs are below them, just because they support another club. Really it's completely the other way around - I'll give all the credit in the world to the guy or girl who trots along to support Morecambe or Brentford, rather than take the easy way out and pick whoever is at the top of the league most often. Similarly, our City journey has not been covered in glory until very recently, Div 2, York & Bury away... but it's a giggle. Which is what supporting your team should be, not a status symbol to whack those with other loyalties around the head with. I hope we don't forget that either.
